Oil heater



July 12, 1932. w. H. PINGREY 01L HEATER Filed March 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 811W #6 M m I H y W Jul 12, 1932. w H HNGREY 1,866,986

OIL HEATER Filed March 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Z] Mam/tom fifjilil iwi GROW a, o.

Patented Jul 12, 19 2 UNITED STATES .PATENTLOFFICE, i i wILso v n. PINGREY, or BLAmsrown, IOWA i i i on. HEATER, v

* w Application filed March 16,1931}. Serial No'. 523,os 0. v j

I For the sake of illustrationfit might be stated that during cold weather, the lubr cating oil employedin lubricating the bearings and moving parts of internal combustion eni5 gines, frequently becomes'quite cold and con geals, thereby forming a moisture'in the crank case. The moisture so formed, on contacting; with the cold walls of the crank case and oil circulating pipesof thelubricat- 10 ing system, condenses and freezes,thereby clogging the crank case outlet openings and pipes of the circulating system, preventing the distribution of the oil to the bearings and moving parts, to the end that the bearings and moving parts are frequently damaged or burnt out. I i

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention toprovidean electrically controlled means to be submerged in the crank case of an internal combustion engine, for heating the oil to a degree to cause it to flow freely, under the influence of the oil pump forming a part of the lubricating system. 95 'A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will heat the outlet openings of the crank case, as well as the tubes through which the oil passes, to eliminate ice formations at these points, to insure a free passage of the oil to accomplish its purpose.

A still further object of the invention is i the provisionof an electric heater, which may be connected either with the usual city service electric supply, or with thcbattery of the motor with which the device is used, for supplying the coils of the device, with electric energy.

With the foregoing and other objects in .1

the body portion, while the flange "lie formed which the flanges 6 may slide, in securing th'e to secure the cover against displacement,

View, which will appear as the description through acrank case,showing a heater constructed in accordance with'the inv'ention, as

positioned" therein. "i

, Figure 2 is a fragmental elevational view M taken at rightangles to Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged plan View of the heater. 1 'i l 7 Figure 4 is a plan view of the heater, the

coverbeing removed. Figure 5'is a sectional view taken on line (it) 55 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken oirline 6-6 of Figure 5. i

Figure 7 is a perspective view ofone of the coil supports of the heater. r w

Figure 8 is a perspective view of theintermediate coil supporting member. A 1

Referring to the drawings in detail, the heater comprisesa box-like, body portion iiidicated generally by the reference character 5, the same being constructed preferablyfof sheet metalmater'ial. Longitudinal flanges 6 are formed along the upper side edges of along the front edge of the body portion. These flanges cooperate with the inturned 'fianges 8 that areformed on the cover 9, the

flanges 8' being disposed in suitable spaced relation with the]cover,'providing spaces into cover on the body portion. Tongues 10. are formed along the rear edge of the cover, and are adapted to be bent downwardly to contact with the'rear end of the body portion 5,

under normal conditions; V p

-The reference character 11 designatesthe base of the heating element, which base is formed preferably of metal, and as shown is t: provided with Ydownwardly extended end portion's112' having tongues'12 that extend through suitable openings in the bottom of the body portion 5, to secure the base 11 in position. Secured to the base, near the 0pposite ends thereof, are coil supporting members 13, the supporting members 13 being constructed of insulating material. These supporting members extend throughout the width of the body portioinpand are held in position-by means of the angle plates 14' that we are shown as bolted to the base 11 and supporting members 13, near the opposite ends thereof. Disposed intermediate the ends of the body portion, is a central supporting member 15 which is also constructed of insulating material, and held in position by its contact with the walls of the body por tion.

As clearly shown by the drawings,.pairs of openings 16 and 17 respectively, are formed in the upper surfacesiof the coil supporting members, and disposed near the ends thereof, which openings are of diameters to receive the coils 18 that are constructed of suitable resistance wires such as German silver, to the end that oil with which the heater is used, will be heatedbut not burnt. One end of the coil 18 connects with the terminal 19, and passes through the openings at one side of the coil supporting members, fromwhere the coil passes through the openings near the opposite side of the body portion, and connects with the terminal 20.

Wires 21 lead from the terminals 19 and 20, and connect with the posts 22 to which the wires 23 are connected, the wires 23 leading to a suitable socket not shown, of the electric house wiring circuit fed from the city service supply, for supplying 110 volts to the heater.

Should it be desired to use the heater with the usual electric current from the battery of the vehicle of which the motor forms a part, the wire 22 has been provided, which wire may be brought into circuit with the battery, not shown, in any desired manner. This Wire 22 connects with the terminal 23, to which one end of the resistance coil 24 has connection, the coil passing through the opening 25 of the central coil supporting memher 15, where it connects with the base 11, at 26, forming the ground through the crank casing of the motor. The heater may be secured within the crank case in any well known manner, so that the same will not move within the crank case, under the jars and jolts directed to the motor vehicle, due to road conditions.

In the use of the device, it will be obvious that by plugging the wires 21 or 22, in a suitable electric circuit, the heat caused by the electric energy passing through the resistance coil, will heat the lubricating oil in which the heater is submerged, to cause the oil to flow freely to accomplish its purpose.

It might be further stated that the cover as well as the side and end walls of the body portion 5, are formed with openings so that a free circulation of the oil through the body portion of the heater, to contact with the coils, will be insured.

I claim: v

1. A liquid heater to be submerged in the Oll of a crank case, comprising a body portion, a base removably supported within the body portion and disposed in spaced rela tion with the bottom of the body portion,

providing a passageway, coil supporting members secured to the base, near the ends thereof, coil supporting members disposed intermediate the ends of the base, resistance coils mounted on the coil supporting members and dividing the body portion into compartments, a cover mounted on the body portion and engaging the coil supporting members, providing a passageway, the sides of the body portion and cover having openings to permit oil to pass into the body portion, and means connected with the coils to supply electric energy thereto.

2, A liquid heater to be submerged in the oil of a crank case, comprising a body portion, a base mounted within the body portion, said body portion having openings in the bottom thereof, depending end portions on the base extended through the openings in the bottom of the body portion to secure the base within the body portion, coil supporting members secured to the base and extending upwardly therefrom, resistance coils mountedon the coil supporting members, a cover plate on the body portion and engaging the coil supporting members, said body portion having openings to permit oil to circulate therethrough, and wires connected with the coils to supply electric energy thereto.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

WILSON H. PINGREY. 

